Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 8 Edwardsville

I’m certain it stings to make it all the way to the championship game of the state final and lose, so close to achieving a season-long dream. But if there’s one person who could rally a team back from a loss like that, it’s reigning IHSA Coach of the Year Tim Funkhouser. He’s bringing back a younger, more inexperienced starting squad in 2018, but one that still holds enough of the pieces that could keep it contending into the summer months.

The 2018 edition of the Edwardsville Tigers will look strange without a couple of its former stars, shortstop and starting pitcher Kade Burns and outfielder Dylan Burris. The duo kindled the fire that sparked the team’s 38-win season. Burns served as the team’s go-to starter at times, he was the one who took the mound first in the championship game, and was one of the team’s offensive catalysts, too. Burris was one of the best leadoff hitters in the state who set the school record for most triples in a season. His speed kept opposing pitchers paranoid on the basepaths, as well.

The loss of those two is huge. Plugging those holes will be difficult, if not impossible. So Funkhouser will instead be relying on a couple of other key players for its attempt to get back to state in 2018, rather than looking for the Burns-Burris duo’s replacements.

The rest of the schools in the Southwest Conference won’t be excited to see the big bopper Westcott get back into the batter’s box. The sophomore started for the varsity team last year at first base and slugged 12 home runs, including one in the championship. He verbally committed to Louisville last spring as just a freshman. He’ll be heavily leaned upon to provide the bulk of the runs this offense scores given his power and advanced approach. Apart from Westcott, senior righties Reid Hendrickson and Chase Gockel should both be perched at the front of this pitching staff. Hendrickson is a pitchability right-hander who’s also a solid defender in the infield and will be a big contributor for the Tigers all season long. Junior RHP Dawson Taylor could be an X-factor for the staff. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has touched 90 mph this winter and flashed a tight slider to go along with it. His ability to consistently throw strikes will end up determining his role on the staff.

Senior catcher Collin Elvers will be the man behind the plate for Gockel, Hendrickson and the rest of the staff, taking over for the since graduated Daniel Reed.